MATCH EneGENIUS

Posted on November 6, 2021 | Last updated February 3, 2025

MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)
This is the energy drink EneGENIUS from the MATCH brand, a carbonated beverage. It is available for purchase at Tsuruha Drug Group, Amazon, and vending machines operated by Otsuka Foods.

MATCH EneGENIUS

Manufacturer	Otsuka foods
Country of Origin	Japan
Price	195 JPY
Flavor	Grapefruit、Chemicals
Total rating	★★★★☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of Citrus Bitter & Pop Chemical Taste Is Delicious

When opened, a bitter fruit scent and the sweet, medicine-like scent typical of MATCH fill the air. The red-pink, cloudy color resembles pink grapefruit, which is quite appealing.
MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)
As you take a sip, the pleasant bitterness blends with the fruity taste of pink grapefruit and MATCH’s signature soft chemical flavor. It’s much tastier than I had imagined.

The bitter fruit flavor is rich, and the bitterness lingers after drinking, allowing you to enjoy a satisfying aftertaste, which I personally enjoy.

EneGENIUS maintains the sweet, classic MATCH flavor while the rich bitter fruit taste becomes the main flavor. The balance of bitterness, acidity, and the pop chemical feeling typical of MATCH makes it a highly satisfying drink. With such a dynamic flavor profile, you’ll find yourself easily finishing the 500ml can.

Energy Ingredients of MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)

MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)
It contains 42.5mg of caffeine. The caffeine content is quite low, so it’s safe to drink without worry. If you’re expecting a boost of alertness or concentration from the caffeine, this might not be the drink for you.

The catchphrase of EneGENIUS is “A drink for the brainiac,” combining quickly absorbed glucose and the slower-absorbing palatinose to provide energy at different times. The product description refers to this as “instant” and “sustained” energy. For similar reasons, ZONe also includes palatinose.

That said, despite being marketed as a brainiac’s drink, the caffeine content is low, and it lacks smart amino acids or herbs, giving it the feel of a convenient concept drink. Even though the ingredient amounts may not have noticeable effects, if the drink had some of those “brain-boosting” elements, it might have become a more interesting product! At 250ml for about 200 yen, it feels a bit overpriced considering its ingredients.

Design of MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)

MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)
The can features a simple design with a large exclamation mark on a silver background. There’s nothing distinctly MATCH about it, and the use of such a common symbol combined with the overly simple mirrored silver can makes it feel like a concept design at the planning stage. Given that energy drinks are abstract products, logo and design might be tricky to nail.

MATCH is a well-recognized brand, so it might have been better to design something simpler, like “MATCH Smart Energy” or “MATCH Energy,” using their existing logo. After all, the MATCH logo is pretty cool.
MATCH EneGENIUS(エネジーニアス)
On the back, it describes the roles of the two types of sugars and emphasizes its purpose as a brain-boosting drink for studying and working. The black text on the back creates a stronger contrast, making it look cleaner than the front.

The vague impression left by the exclamation mark and simple circle arrangements on the front cannot be ignored. It’s disappointing, as I really enjoyed the taste, but the design feels a bit rushed.